The Critical Encyclopedia of Cybermedia
As a class, we will create a Critical Encyclopedia of Cybermedia. Each of
you will be responsible for covering one topic (of your own choosing). The
Critical Encyclopedia of Cybermedia will have two basic features:
- First, it will be developed and presented online. You are
expected use the capabilities of the medium to the fullest extent of your
current HTML abilities (the three Web exercises should have given everyone
a minimum baseline standard). The project will allow you to experiment
with hypertext, multimedia, and visual design. Our assumption will be that
working with digital technology in this applied context will broaden and
deepen the theoretical understandings we have garnered from our readings
(and vice versa -- that opinions and ideas that we have read about will
affect what you do in designing the project).
- Second, your job isn't simply to summarize and report on the topic;
rather, you must formulate a critical argument and work to support it.
Therefore, rather than writing on "Copyright and MP3" you would write on
the question of whether current copyright law is adequate for dealing with
digital content. Or rather than just writing about Strange Days,
you
might write about the film in relation to Diane Gromola's idea of virtual
reality as a cultural mirror. The point is to take a critical stance on
your subject, rather than just offering a descriptive overview.
The Critical Encyclopedia of Cybermedia (I hope) can be used as one of the
textbooks in future versions of this course, and I will also make an
effort to share it with colleagues at other instiutions who are teaching
courses on cyberspace and new media (you can see a list of some of those
courses here). The point is that
what you are doing is real work that will be read by real people in the
real world.
Some Specifics
Your entry in the encyclopedia should have the following characteristics:
- It should contain a minimum of 1000 words of text.
- It should reflect the medium in which you are creating it. Simply
writing a linear paper and then chopping it up into linked sections or
adding some bells and whistles is not acceptable. Rather, you should use
your HTML knowledge to experiment with the full potential of electronic
writing. For those of you with more advanced Web design skills, Java,
Javascript, Dynamic HTML, Flash, and other multimedia features are all
fine to use -- but it's your responsibility to ensure that these features
work properly if you choose to implement them.
- You should make an effort incorporate the insights of some of the
people we've read during the semester as a way of supporting your own
opinions and ideas. When you do cite other people's work, you have a
responsibility to document it properly. For printed matter, consult the
MLA Handbook or MLA Style Manual (the library has copies in
the reference room, or you can buy a copy at one of the university
bookstores). For online sources, consult the MLA guidelines available here.
- Your HTML must display properly in version 4.x or higher of both
Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer. It is your responsibility to
test your work on both platforms.
A Note On Copyright
Because these sites are being created in an educational setting, much can
be forgiven under the terms of the Fair Use codes of current U.S.
copyright law (for those who are interested in reading more about
copyright on the Web, the course Links page has
some good starting points). But, you should use common senese and your
discretion -- borrowing an image from another site is usually okay, so
long as the builders of the other site haven't specifically stipulated
that you shouldn't. It's also best to give other people credit (including
a link to their site) when you use their work; so, you might caption an
image with something like the following: "This image obtained from The Atlas of
Cyberspaces". Likewise, you should never simply download someone
else's work and present it as if it were your own -- plagiarism is much of
an issue online as on paper.
Grading
The final project is worth 35% of your course grade. The grade I assign
for your project will depend on both its
content and its presentation. A flashy, well-designed but
poorly written and conceived project will receive a weak
grade; likewise, a well-written and researched project that fails
to take any advantage of the unique capablities of the medium
will also receive a weak grade.
To receive a grade, you must mail me (not Linda Cantara) the
correct URL of your final project on April 17, the
day that it is due.
A Don't, Some Dos, and a Due
- DON'T just write a "regular" paper and then cybermediate it the night before.
- DO think about your medium, and what's different about it from ink on printed paper.
- DO use hypertext links, images (and other kinds of multimedia), and provacative visual design.
- DO think about the structure and design of your site beforehand; make a diagram, outline, or map.
- DO support your own opinions and assertions with facts and references to other people's insights from our readings.
- DO check spelling and grammer.
- DO verify that your HTML works properly in both major browsers.
- DO teach me, provoke me, surprise me.
- DO have fun with it.
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